Text: Nehemiah 6:1-19.
‘One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mahetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you- by night they are coming to kill you,”’ verse 10 [NIV].
When the letters from the enemies failed to intimidate Nehemiah, the devil devised other means, Shemaiah the false prophet, an enemy from within. Shemaiah was a son of a priest whose family was very close to Nehemiah. The enemies then hired his friend to lure him into the Holy place in the temple and take refuge. Since Nehemiah was not a priest, this act would make him complicit in the desecration of God’s house. People would avoid him as someone who had no reverence for God, and would also doubt his courage. In the end people would question Nehemiah’s integrity and motive, and most likely abandon him. So you need to be careful as the enemy can fight you from within.
Jesus Christ Himself was betrayed by His own disciple, a close accountant in His ministry. We may never be careful enough but Jesus Christ promised to be with us all the time. He will give us victory. Amen. Our hiding place should be in Christ alone. We are secured against the attacks of the enemy only in Christ.
Meditate on verses 10-13. How are you going to apply them to your life?
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, give me the spirit of discernment to differentiate between the Holy Spirit and false one. Amen.